There is scarcely a person alive who hasn’t experienced back pain at one time or another. For some, it’s the result of too much physical exertion and it will usually pass with rest. For others, it’s a chronic issue that must be dealt with on a daily basis. That said, you may want to consider the possibility that your back pain isn’t caused by simple overexertion. In fact, it could potentially be due to high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
How do you know if your back pain is the result of hypertension? Of course, your best course of action is to see your doctor and have your blood pressure checked regularly. If you have issues with hypertension, your doctor can even teach you how to monitor your blood pressure at home. By the same token, you should have any unexplained back pain checked out by your physician so you can get to the root cause of the problem.
Provided you can’t get an immediate appointment with your doctor, you may want to know how you can potentially tell if your back pain is related to high blood pressure or something else. If you’re experiencing pain in your lower back, it’s less likely that the pain is being caused by hypertension. However, it is possible that it could be due to a weak spot in your aorta, the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. These weak spots are called aneurysms. When it involves the aorta, it often presents as back pain. It’s worth mentioning that this is a true medical emergency, so you should never hesitate to call an ambulance if you have even the slightest suspicion that this could be your problem.
You should also know that having chronic lower back pain can potentially cause hypertension, as blood pressure has a tendency to go up when you’re in pain. Unfortunately, being in pain on a regular basis can eventually cause your blood pressure to go up and stay that way.
What About Upper Back Pain?
Upper back pain can sometimes be more concerning, as it is potentially linked to high blood pressure and other issues with the heart. This is especially true if you’re experiencing pain directly between your shoulder blades or you have pain that radiates to either arm. You might even feel pain that travels back and forth between your upper back and jaw. This indicates that you may be having a heart attack. Prompt medical attention is absolutely necessary. In addition, it’s important to know that persistent or severe upper back pain could be a sign that your blood pressure is far too high. If you can’t readily identify a recent injury to the area, it’s a good idea to get it checked out before other potential complications arise.
You may also notice other symptoms associated with high blood pressure. These symptoms can include, but are not limited to:
- headaches
- dizziness
- heart palpitations
- changes in vision
One of the things that makes it so hard to know if you have issues with high blood pressure is the fact that many people have no symptoms at all. In fact, you may feel perfectly fine while having high blood pressure. Many individuals who don’t get regular check-ups may have it for years without knowing. Unfortunately, the first symptom of hypertension often involves a potentially fatal medical emergency such as a heart attack or stroke. That’s why it’s crucial that you know your blood pressure and do everything possible to keep it within healthy limits.
What should you do if you’ve been experiencing back pain lately? Again, try to identify the precise moment that the pain started in order to determine whether or not it could be related to an injury. If you can’t pinpoint such an injury or the pain persists for more than a few days, it’s time to make an appointment with your doctor. That way, you can determine what might be causing your back pain. You’ll also have your blood pressure checked. Once that’s done, you’ll know where you stand and whether or not you need to take further action to get your pressure down.
There are also several ways to keep tabs on your blood pressure on a daily basis. Even if you’re healthy, it’s still a good idea to check it regularly. Thanks to home blood pressure monitors with digital readings and smart watches, there’s really no excuse for not knowing your blood pressure at any given time. If you are experiencing back pain and your blood pressure has been higher than normal lately, it’s possible that the two could be linked. Call us today for an appointment 205-637-1363.
